Yucca plants, a type of succulent, thrive in hot, dry climates. These plants frequently appear in various ecosystems including deserts, mountains, tropics, and grasslands.
Due to its tough foliage and waxy root system, yucca plants are resistant to herbicides or weed killers. However, there are a few steps you can take in order to help your yucca thrive.
Overwatering
Yucca plants can tolerate drought-like conditions, but they still have the potential to die if overwatered. Overwatering yucca plants can lead to leaf loss, root rot and even death – making it one of the leading causes of plant death among yuccas.
Overwatering yucca plants can have several consequences, but the most obvious is root rot. This occurs when soil becomes too wet and oxygen cannot enter between particle pockets of soil.
In addition to root rot, overwatering can cause other issues like stunted growth with yellowed leaves and leaves that fall off rapidly. These symptoms are most often observed when plants have been watered too much for an extended period of time.
The first indication of overwatering a yucca is limp or dark green leaves with yellow or brown tips. This is an easily fixable sign by decreasing watering frequency.
Yellow or brown leaves on yuccas may indicate too little sunlight and need for additional illumination. This is also often indicative of overwatering and should be addressed promptly.
Yuccas that are overwatered and lacking sunlight will develop wilting or browning leaves, drooping branches, and a soft trunk. To remedy this condition, simply move the plant to an area with more direct light sources like a window.
Overwatering can even result in leaf blisters. When water pressure builds up within cells of leaves, these cells will burst and create blisters on the leaf surface. These blisters usually have a tan, brown or white hue due to too much water being taken up by roots.
Overwatering may also be indicative of transplant shock, when a plant is abruptly moved from dry or damp conditions into hot, sunny environments. This can occur when repottering or moving yucca plants from one pot to another.
Poor Lighting
Yucca plants make for a striking feature in any room, thriving outdoors or in sunny spots. But they need regular care to remain healthy and vibrant.
They are vulnerable to pests and disease, so it is essential that you monitor for signs of infestation. Common culprits include mealy bugs, spider mites, scale, thrips, whitefly and vine weevils.
If your yucca is suffering from any of these, using a mild soap to kill any pests and viruses. Be sure to follow up with an exhaustive watering to confirm that the soap has worked and remove any remaining chemicals.
Repotting a yucca plant can be challenging, so opt for a pot that is slightly larger than its root ball. Doing this ensures the roots receive adequate nourishment and prevents soil moisture buildup that could lead to root rot.
Alternately, you can divide the plant in half and repot each portion separately. Doing this will give you two distinct plants with differing growth rates, giving you control over their aesthetic appearance.
If your yucca plant is growing taller than expected, pruning may be necessary. A pruning cut will encourage the plant to produce smaller leaves and reduce its overall size.
You can prune your plant either in early spring or late fall to slow its growth rate and minimize damage potential.
One way to extend the life of your yucca plant is through propagation. Seeds can be started indoors in March using either sterile seed starter mix or soilless mix for germinating indoors.
Once the seeds germinate, they must rest for three weeks before being planted outdoors in the garden. Germination should begin within three weeks and it may take several months before plants start flowering.
Your yucca plant can thrive for many years when kept healthy and well-watered. To extend its lifespan even further, you can repot it into a larger container in either spring or fall to increase its chances of lasting longevity.
Herbicides
Farmers often employ herbicides to eliminate weeds that impede crop growth and production. Herbicides contain chemicals which stop weeds from sprouting, thus starving them of essential nutrients, water and sunlight. Furthermore, herbicides prevent weeds from spreading to areas they shouldn’t be.
Herbicides come in various forms, such as sprays and granular. In agriculture, they are employed to control invasive weeds that could threaten crop yield or cause issues for other plants nearby. Homeowners may also apply herbicides to their yard to eliminate unsightly vegetation that detracts from the aesthetic appeal of their landscape.
Some herbicides, such as glyphosate and triclopyr, are non-selective and will destroy all green plant life – including yucca.
These herbicides should be diluted and applied according to label instructions. They are most effective when applied during spring, early summer or fall.
Glyphosate and triclopyr are systemic herbicides, meaning they will penetrate from the application site to reach a plant’s root system at ground level. This makes them ideal for controlling yucca since they will kill it from within without harming any nearby vegetation.
Yuccas are perennial succulent plants found throughout North America, most often in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-11.
Herbicides can be employed to quickly and effectively eradicate yucca plants and prevent their spread. Typically, herbicides are sprayed onto the foliage of yucca or its base at ground level in order to render it inactive.
Applying herbicide to a yucca is easy: mix herbicide and vegetable oil or diesel fuel together in a five gallon bucket and shake before spraying.
Another method is to cut the yucca down to its stump with either a saw or pruning shears.
To effectively destroy yucca’s roots and foliage with herbicide, spray both. Doing so will ensure that all existing roots are destroyed and won’t produce any new sprouts.
Vinegar
Vinegar is an effective herbicide that can be used to control unwanted plants. It offers a safer alternative than synthetic herbicides and has less environmental damage than most weed killers. Unfortunately, if used incorrectly, vinegar could destroy your yucca plant, so be mindful when applying it in your yard or garden.
Vinegar, also referred to as table vinegar or white wine vinegar, is a naturally occurring liquid created by fermenting fruit juice, sugar or other liquids into alcohol through a two-step fermentation process. Yeast enzymes break down sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide gas which then gets combined with oxygen by Acetobacter bacteria to form acetic acid and water.
Acetic acid, the primary chemical in vinegar, gives it its distinctive sour-tasting flavor and aroma. It can be used in many culinary applications such as pickling meats, fish, fruits and vegetables; plus it’s often included in marinades or dressings and used as a preservative in foods and beverages.
Home made vinegar can be made from a variety of liquids, but is usually made with fermented wine. For best results when making vinegar, select wines with strong aromas like floral, fruity or nutty tastes.
Once a wine has been produced, it must be allowed to age in an aerobic (oxygenated) environment for weeks or months until the acetic acid has been transformed into a flavorful vinegar with at least 4% acidity. To speed up fermentation, mother of vinegar – an untoxic slime that accumulates in liquid and binds with alcohol molecules in order to inhibit bacterial growth – helps ensure this slow process occurs.
Another ingredient often added to wine vinegar is sugar, which helps break down the alcohol into a more usable form. The end result can be used as an adjutant, food flavoring and preservative.
Make your own vinegar with any unpasteurized alcoholic beverage, such as wine or cider. All that’s required is a non-toxic container to ferment in and an breathable material which can be secured over the vessel to prevent bugs or other organisms from interfering with the process.